Method and apparatus for forming and arranging wafers or cookies



June 10, 1969 A. F. VERHOEVEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ANDARRANGING WAFERS OR COOKIES Filed Sept. 10, 1965 Sheet M0!!! xqum'aINVENTOR. W7 A #5840475 BY 7/ M ATTORNEYS June 0, 6 A. F. VERHOEVN3,448,696

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ARRANGING WAFERS OR COOKIES FiledSept. 1 0. 1965 Sheet 2 014 ATTORNEYS June 10, 1969 A. F. VERHOEVEN3,448,696 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ARRANGING WAFERS ORCOOKIES Filed Sept. 10, 1965 Sheet 3 of 4 fi I INVENTOR. 41354? FVEF/rQfVE i/ BY 1 Q II/Zn A TTOR NE YS A. F. VERHOEVEN June 10, 1969METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ARRANGING WAFERS OR COOKIES FiledSept. 10, 1965 INVENTOR x View ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,448,696METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND ARRANGING WAFERS 0R COOKIES AlbertF. Verhoeven, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Werner Machinery Company,Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 10, 1965,Ser. No. 486,425 Int. Cl. A21c 3/00, 11/10; A21d 8/02 US. Cl. 107-4 12Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for arrangingwafers such as cookies and the like for packaging wherein a plurality ofWafers are deposited on an elongated sheet which is moving lengthwise.The wafers are deposited in columns running longitudinally of the sheetand slitting means is provided to slit the sheet between the columnsinto separate elongated strips, each bearing a column of Wafers. Thesheet strips are cut transversely at desired intervals determined by apredetermined selected number of wafers to produce a plurality of stripsof supporting material each bearing a plurality of wafers.

This invention relates to the forming and arranging, as for packaging,of wafers such as cookies and the like, and more particularly to amethod and apparatus for continuously forming wafers such as cookies,depositing the same upon a sheet of suitable supporting material, and

. automatically cutting the sheet into individual sections which eachcarry a predetermined number of the wafers, so that the individualsections may be stacked and packaged in a desired manner.

The automatic forming of wafer material such as cookie dough intoindividual cookies has been known in the past, and it has also beenknown to automatically deposit such wafers upon a moving sheet of paperor the like so that the wafers may subsequently be packaged. However,the separating of the supporting sheet of material and the waferscarried thereupon into individual segments has previously been atime-consuming and expensive operation. There are many problems involvedin attempting to automatically cut the supporting paper or the like intoindividual portions, since the cookies are spaced very closely togetherand the sheet of supporting paper or the like is continuously moving.Consequently, no suitable equipment for automatically accomplishing thishas previously existed.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providea method of and apparatus for automatically cutting the supporting sheetinto individual portions bearing a predetermined number of individualwafers while the sheet and wafers continuously move, and withoutinterrupting such movement.

Another important object of the present invention is to provideapparatus for continuously accomplishing the complete operation forforming cookie dough or other wafer medium into desired wafers such ascookies, depositing the cookies upon a moving sheet of supportingmaterial, and automatically separating the supporting sheet intoindividual segments which each carry a predetermined desired number ofcookies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide wafer-formingand arranging apparatus of the character described, which initiallyseparates the moving sheet into individual longitudinal columns byslitting the sheet between desired wafers as the sheet continuouslymoves.

A still further object of the present invention is to providewafer-forming and arranging apparatus of the character described whichseparates the moving sheet of Patented June 10, 1969 materialtransversely into individual portions by means of a cutting apparatussynchronized to the movement of the sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide wafer-forming andarranging apparatus of the type described which separates the movingsheet of supporting material into individual transverse portions bymeans of structure which first moves in synchronism with the movingwafers and sheet material, then holds the wafers upon the moving sheetso that there is no relative motion between the two, and which then cutsthe sheet transversely adjacent predetermined ones of the wafers whichare held in position.

Still another object of the present invention is to providewafer-forming and arranging apparatus of the type described which firstseparates the moving support sheet into individual longitudinal columnsby slitting the sheet as the same is moved, and which then separates theindividual columns into predetermined sections by transversely cuttingthe same adjacent predetermined wafers.

A still further object of the present invention is to providewafer-forming and arranging apparatus for longitudinally slitting thesupporting sheet and then transversely cutting it in the manner noted,which includes a rapidly vibrating or oscillating cutting blade formaking the transverse separations.

A still further object of the present invention is to providewafer-forming and arranging apparatus having the vibrating oroscillating cutting blade noted, which incorporates a unique supportmount for the pivot points of the oscillating cutting blade apparatus.

The foregoing important objects and advantages of this invention,together with other additional desirable features and attributesthereof, will become increasingly apparent to those skilled in thepertinent art following consideration of the ensuing specification andits appended claims, particularly when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings setting forth a preferred embodiment of theapparatus.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an overhead plan view in diagrammatic block form showing theseparate operations and the fiow of the process involved;

FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view showing general details of thecomplete apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a frontal perspective view of the wafer-forming and depositingportion of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged frontal perspective view of the longitudinalslitting structure involved, showing details thereof;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation, partially insection, of some of the structure shown in FIG. 4, showing furtherdetails thereof;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the apparatus, showing details of thestructure for making transverse cuts;

FIG. 6a is an enlarged perspective view of the novel pivot jointutilized in the structure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged lateral perspective view showing further detailsof the structure for making transverse cuts; and

FIG. 8 is a second enlarged lateral perspective view showing additionaldetails of the transverse cutting apparatus.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides apparatus for forming andarranging wafers such as cookies and the like, which most preferablyincludes means providing an elongate sheet of material for supportingthe wafers, means for moving the sheet of supporting material lengthwisein a generally continuous manner, means for forming a desired Wafermedium such as cookie dough into bar form of desired configuration,slicing means for severing the bars into individual wafers anddepositing the Wafers upon the moving sheet material, slitting means forpassing through the moving sheet between desired Wafers to slit thesheet into longitudinal columns carrying a sequence of the wafers, andmeans for making transverse cuts in the moving individual columns ofwafers and support material to cut the latter transversely intopredetermined individual sections which each carry a desired number ofthe wafers, so that the individual sections may then be stacked andpackaged in a desired manner by known automatic means.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 the completewafer-forming and arranging portion of the invention is indicatedgenerally at 10, and a carryoff conveyor of a conventional nature isindicated at 18. As the various labels indicate, the portion includes asheet material supply portion 20, a wafer'forming and depositing section30, a slitting section 100, and a holding and row-cutting section 200.The final Separate sections of sheet material and illustrative wafersare carried away by the carry-off conveyor 18, positioned beyond theholding and row-cutting section 200.

Some of the structural features of the complete apparatus 10 are shownin FIG. 2, where it will be seen that the complete apparatus embodies aframe structure 12 which supports a central conveyor bed portion 14. Aswill be seen, the conveyor bed portion includes continuously movableconveyor belt members which move longitudinally or lengthwise of theframe structure 12. Mounted upon the frame structure are the variouscomponent assemblies which provide the sequential operations alreadynoted. The first such assembly is the sheet material supply portion 20,which will be seen here to comprise rolls 22 of a suitable sheet stocksuch as paper for supporting the wafers subsequently formed. There arepreferably two such rolls mounted for rotation upon appropriate mountingrod means 24 passing through their centers. The sheet stock from rolls22 passes length wise of the apparatus 10 and is continuously moved inthis direction upon the central conveyor bed portion 14 as the stock isunrolled from its supply 20.

The wafer-forming and depositing section 30 is seen in FIG. 2 to includea hopper 32 into which the dough or other wafer medium is placed, and apair of roller members 34 and 36. The rollers are operated by rotatingroller 34 in a clockwise direction while rotating roller 36 in acounterclockwise direction. Together, these rollers act upon the doughin hopper 32 to continuously pack it into a series of cylinderspositioned immediately beneath the hopper, as is shown more specificallyin FIG. 3, to form the dough into bars whose cross section conforms tothe configuration of the cylinders. This structure and its operation aregenerally known to those skilled in the art, and consequently no furtherspecific discussion is deemed to be necessary. The slitting assembly 100of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2, as is the holding and row-cuttingstructure 200. These are shown in more detail in subsequent figures,however, and they are shown in FIG. 2 to illustrate their positioningand general coaction with the remainder of the complete apparatus 10.

The wafer-forming and depositing section 30 depicted generally in thefirst two figures is seen in detail in FIG. 3, in which the hopper 32 isillustrated in phantom. As seen here, a plurality of forming tubes 38depend from the hopper, and it is into these that the dough or otherwafer medium from the hopper is packed by the action of the rotatingcylinders 34 and 36 seen in FIG. 2, as persons skilled in the art willreadily understand. As the dough is packed into the forming tubes, itattains a cross section comparable to that of the tubes, and is pushedout of the tubes as at 40 in this shape. A horizontally-disposed cuttingblade 42 is mounted for reciprocating movements from left to right asseen in the drawing, such that the blade slices the tubes of formeddough 40 into individual generally fiat wafers. These drop downwarddirectly onto the moving sheet stock 26, from the sheet supply portion20 of the previous figures, which is positioned immediately therebelow.In this manner, a continuous succession of generally longitudinallyaligned columns of wafers are deposited upon the moving sheet.

Inasmuch as both sides of the structure supporting and actuating thecutting blade 42 are the same, and also inasmuch as the generalprinciples of this structure are known in the art, only one side isshown and discussed herein. This structure includes a support linkage 44positioned lengthwise relative to the moving sheet stock, to which theend of the cutting blade is attached. The support linkage 44 is in turnsuspended from a transverse support rod 46 for pivotal movement in thedirection shown by the arrow, i.e., transversely relative to the sheetstock 26. A tie rod 48 is pivotally connected to the rearward end of thesupport linkage 44, and extends horizontally across the frame structureof the apparatus to connect in a similar manner to a like supportlinkage (not shown) attached to the opposite end of the cutting blade42, to transmit motion from one of the support linkages to the other.Also, a yoke 50 is pivotally connected to the support linkage 44 nearits end, to impart reciprocating motion thereto. The yoke itself isreciprocated by an eccentric drive indicated at 52 which is driven in arotary manner through a drive shaft 54 from a belt and pulleyarrangement 56. It is to be understood that the belt and pulley aredriven by an appropriate electric motor or the like, which is notillustrated here but which is shown generally in FIG. 2. Drive shaft 54is supported in place by an appropriate coupling member 58.

The entire oscillating cutting blade 42, together with its supportlinkages 44 and reciprocating drive members and the like, is drivenforward and backward relative to the hopper 32 and forming tubes 38through the action of a reciprocating drive rod 60. This member ispivoted near its center, and is pivotally connected at its top to thetransverse support rod 46. At its bottom, the drive rod is spring-loadedagainst a rotating cam 62. From the configuration of the cam 62illustrated, it will be apparent that the bottom portion of drive rod 60will move sharply toward the right when it engages the lobe portion ofcam 62, and that consequently the top portion of the drive rod will movesharply toward the left, to carry the cutting bar 42 into and throughthe bars 40 of dough emerging from the forming tubes 38. Conversely, thebottom of drive rod 60 will be moved sharply toward the left as itfollows the surface of cam 62, to bring the top of the rod back to theposition shown in FIG. 3. A stabilizing bar 64 follows a guide rod 66 atits bottom and is pivotally coupled to the top of the drive rod 60 andthe support linkage 44. This serves to stabilize the forward andbackward thrusting of the support linkage and cutting bar assembly.

The slitting assembly indicated generally in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown inmore detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. As seen in FIG. 4, this assembly includesa pair of like units 101 and 101, which are mounted upon a pivotalsupport bar 102 mounted immediately above the moving sheets of paper orlike support material from the rolls 22 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Morespecifically, each of the units 101 and 101' includes a plurality ofadjacent spaced cutting blades seen at 104 (FIG. 5). These are mountedupon independent arms rigidly secured to an appropriate connectingstructure. A counterweight 106 is preferably included, and arranged insuch a manner as to pass over center when the slitting apparatus isrotated upon support bar 102 into the position shown in the figures. Asthe figures illustrate, a raised guide surface 108 is affixed to eachside of the frame structure 12 of the apparatus in such a manner thatthe two sheets of material pass over it. Guide surface 108 preferablyhas a series of spaced grooves or slots 109 aligned with each of thecutting blades 104, such that when the slitting apparatus is pivoted tothe position shown, each of the cutting blades 104 passes through thesheet of material between adjacent longitudinal columns of wafers, topass into the shallow grooves or slots 109 just noted (BIG.Consequently, the moving sheet of material is automatically slit into aplurality of adjacent longitudinal slits, each carrying a single columnof the wafers or cookies (see FIG. 4). Since the moving sheet is slit atthe start of the operation and continuously thereafter, the slittingassembly 100 need not be automated, but may be operated at thecommencement of each operating period by an appropriate control lever110 secured to the support bar 102 to rotate it and the attached units101 and 101 into the cutting position shown.

The holding and row cutting assembly 200 illustrated generally in FIGS.1 and 2 is shown in detail in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. Referring first to FIG.6, it will be observed that the frame structure 12 supports a pair ofupstanding lateral support members 202 and 204, which are secured to theframe and oriented at either side of the complete apparatus. Near thetop of the two support members 202 and 204 and journaled within each ofthese members for rotary movement relative thereto is a transversesupport rod 206. Secured to each end ofthe support rod 206 for movementtherewith are a pair of rocking plates 208 and 210, and secured to eachrocking plate for movement therewith is a downwardly-depending guide 212and 214, respectively. Telescoped over each of the two guides 212 and214 for vertical sliding movement relative thereto are an upper pair ofsliding mount blocks 216 and 218, and a lower pair of sliding mountblocks 220 and 222, respectively.

As will be observed, each of the mount blocks 216, 218, 220, and 222 hasits inwardly-directed portion formed to provide an upraised clevisarrangement, between whose spaced legs is located a cylindrical journalpiece, designated 224, 226, 228 and 230, respectively. Correspondingactuating members 234, 236, 238 and 240, having extending spaced fingerportions, are engaged with each of the journal pieces 224, 226, 228 and230, respectively, so that upward or downward movement of the actuatingmembers imparts a corresponding movement to the associated sliding mountblocks, and to the structures secured thereto.

Rigidly secured to each of the upper sliding mount blocks 216 and 218 isa transverse support column 241, which carries a pair of backing barmeans 242 and 244. These are generally rectangular weights, which areeach preferably provided with a layer of polyurethane or other foam 246and 248, respectively, secured to the lower surface thereof. The backingbar means are preferably affixed to the support column 241 by a slidinginterconnection which permits vertical movement of the backing barsrelative to the column. As illustrated, this may be provided by a pairof studs secured to each of the backing bars which extend upward throughthe support column to receive retaining nuts which hold them loosely inplace to permit the vertical movement described. It is to 'be noted thatthe central conveyor bed portion 14 and the moving sheet material 26carried thereupon pass immediately under the backing bar means 242 and244, such that the latter are aligned directly over the wafers orcookies which move thereunder.

Secured to each of the lower sliding mount blocks 220 and 222 is atransverse cutting assembly support member 250. At each end of thismember is pivotally mounted a vibrating link 252 and 254, respectively,which support at their upper extremity a cutting blade 256 extendingtransversely across the apparatus relative to the central conveyor bedportion 14 and the two sheets of paper 26 moving thereupon. The cuttingblade 256 is a long thin blade with an undulating or serrated uppercutting edge, and the support member 250 preferably has an elongatetransverse groove (not specifically shown) in its upper portion, inwhich the bottom of the cutting blade 256 is loosely positioned to beguided thereby. The lower ends of each of the vibrating links 252 and254 are interconnected by a tie rod 258 which is pivotally mounted toeach of the links. This tie rod serves to transmit motion from one linkto the other, such that they move -synchronously together. The specificpreferred form for the pivotal connection between the vibrating links252, 254 and the tie rod 258 is illustrated within the dashed lines 260,and this is enlarged and shown in detail in FIG. 6a, to be describedsubsequently.

A depending mounting bracket 262 is rigidly secured near one end of thesupport member 250, and this bracket supports a rotating pulley 264which is driven by a desired motor 266, through a belt drive 268. Thedriven pulley 264 drives a yoke 270 by means of a typical drive shaftand eccentric connection, such that the yoke 270 moves in a rapidlyreciprocating manner in the direction shown by the arrow. The end ofyoke 270 is connected to the lower extremity of vibrating link 254, andconsequently the reciprocating motion of the yoke is imparted first tothe vibrating link 254, and also to link 252, through theirinterconnecting tie rod 258. This will be observed to impart acorresponding reciprocation to the cutting blade 256 attached to theupper ends of the links 252 and 254. Further, it will be apparent thatsince the drive pulley 264 is structurally connected by bracket 262 tosupport member 250, the pulley, yoke, vibrating links, and blade willall be moved vertically in the event that the lower sliding mount blocks220 and 222 are moved relative to guides 212 and 214. It is for thispurpose that the drive belt 268 is of a relatively long length, for thispermits the pulley to be moved laterally relative to the motor 266without materially interfering with the driving belt.

As indicated previously, a preferred form for providing thereciprocating pivotal connection between the vibrating links 252 and 254and their interconnecting tie rod 258 is illustrated in FIG. 6a. Asillustrated here, each of these members is preferably divided orbifurcated at its end extremity and has a corresponding machine screwsuch as 252a and 258a passing through the divided ends for varying thespacing therebetween. Each of the divided ends of the links and tie rod.are bored to provide a cylindrical passage therethrough, and a rod 272is passed through this bore and retained in place by tightening theadjusting screws 252a and 258a, such that both the link and the tie rodare securely and non-rotatably connected to the rod 272. Thus, thetypical rotating bearing previosuly found in applications such as thisis completely eliminated, and instead when the link and tie rod aremoved relative to each other, the rod 272 is twisted in a torsionalmovement. Then, on the opposite movement by the link and tie rod, therod resiliently returns to its normal alignment and is twisted in theopposite direction. The desirability of such a connection will beimmediately apparent, since all moving parts are eliminated and there isvirtually no wear to the joint. Further, since friction is eliminated,practically no heat is generated even after the most prolonged periodsof reciprocation, and due to the natural torsional springing of the rod,the me- .chanical efiiciency of such a pivotal joint is very muchgreater than the typical frictional bearing. It will further be apparentthat such a joint may be used to advantage at all points of such pivotalreciprocal motion, such as the connection of the vibrating links 252 and254 to the support member 250, .and also in such applications as thereciprocating pivotal mountings seen in FIG. 3 in connection with thewafer-forming and depositing portion of the apparatus.

Further specific details of the holding and row-cutting assembly 200seen in FIG. 6 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, the assembly200 is viewed laterally from one side of the complete apparatus 10,whereas in rod 206, the rocking plate 208, and its depending guide 212,which all were described in connection with FIG. 6, is all illustratedin more detail here. Thus, it will be observed that the actuatingmembers 234 and 238, whose extending fingers engage the journal pieces224 and 228 of the upper and lower sliding mount blocks 216 and 220,respectively, are connected medially to the rocking plate 208. Thisconnection is a pivotal one, and each of the actuating members 234 and238 are also pivotally connected at their remaining ends to a pair ofconnecting links 280 and 282, respectively. Further, these connectinglinks are also pivotally connected at their other ends to a trippingmember 284. The latter is pivotally connected to the rocking plate 208by a partially rotatable central shaft 286. Thus, as the arrows in thisfigure indicate, a rotary movement of shaft 286 will effectcorresponding movement of the tripping member 284. This movement is inturn coupled by connecting links 280 and 282 to the actuating members234 and 238, to pivot them upon the rocking plate and thereby impartdownward motion to one of the mount blocks 216 and 218 whilesimultaneously imparting upward movement to the other.

As has been stated, the rocking plate 208, together with all otherstructures associated therewith or attached thereto, rotates in areciprocal manner about the support rod 206 as a center. This movementis put into operation by the following structure. First, a rotatingdrive shaft 290 is journaled in support member 202 and driven in adesired manner, to be noted subsequently. An eccentric drive means 292is mounted over shaft 290 and driven thereby, to impart reciprocatingmotion to a coupling shaft unit 294 attached to the eccentric. A secondshaft 296 is also journaled for rotary movement in support member 202,and the reciprocating motion of coupling unit 294 is imparted thereto bya drive rod 298 which passes through unit 294 with a slip fit. Anelongate threaded adjusting bolt 300 passes through an appropriatethreaded passageway in a lateral extension 302 of the drive rod 298,such that its end abuts the coupling 304 on shaft 296, which slidablyreceives the end of drive rod 298. An appropriate hand wheel 306 orother such member is provided for the end of adjusting bolt member 300,such that by turning the threaded adjusting bolt, the effective distancebetween coupling unit 294 and shaft 296 may be varied to limit thestroke of the reciprocating rotary movement imparted to the shaft due tothe action of the eccentric 292 and its coupling 294.

The reciprocating rotary movement of shaft 296 is coupled throughpivotally connected linkages 308 and 310 to the rocking plate 208,linkage 308 being non-rotata bly connected to the shaft 296, and linkage310 being pivotally connected to the rocking plate. Consequently, aclockwise rotation of shaft 296 causes the rocking plate to move to theleft about rod 206 and a counterclockwise rotation of shaft 296 causesthe rocking plate to move to the right, in rocking movements whichcorrespond to the reciprocating motion of this shaft. It is to bepointed out that a micro-switch 312 is mounted to support member 202 tomonitor the movements of drive shaft 290 and eccentric drive 292, eachrevolution of the drive shaft bringing the eccentric drive intoactuating contact with the switch. The purpose of this switch willappear subsequently. As for the means driving shaft 290, it should benoted that this shaft is preferably coupled as by a direct chain driveto the means driving the rotating cam 62 seen in FIG. 3, so that eachrevolution of the cam and consequent actuation of the drive rod 60 andcutting blade 42 in the wafer forming section 30 is synchronized to arevolution of the drive shaft 290 and consequent reciprocating rockingmotion of rocking plate 208 and all its attached structures.

As seen in FIG. 8, the side of the holding and rowcutting assembly 200opposite from that seen in FIG. 1 includes a similar rocking plate 210mounted adjacent lateral support 204 for rocking reciprocal motion aboutthe same support rod 206. The actuating members 236 and 240 which engagethe journals 226 and 230 of upper and lower sliding mounts 218 and 222are pivotally mounted upon the rocking plate 210 at a point intermediatethe ends of the actuating members, and these members are connected attheir remaining ends through pivotal connecting links 314 and 316 to atripping member 318, in the same manner as links 280 and 282 andtripping member 284 of FIG. 7. Tripping member 318 receives the oppositeend of central shaft 286, which also connects to tripping member 284 ofFIG. 7. Consequently, it will be apparent that the movements of thetripping members, connecting links, actuating members, and sliding mountblocks of both FIGS. 7 and 8 are completely synchronized. Further, thesame reciprocating shaft 296 seen in FIG. 7 is journaled in lateralsupport 204, and is connected by pivotal links 320 and 322 to rockingplate 210, in the same manner as is true of links 308 and 310 associatedwith rocking plate 208 of FIG. 7. Consequently, the rocking movements ofboth rocking plates are completely synchronized. Rotating drive shaft290, which serves to drive the eccentric 292 of FIG. 7, is journaled forrotary movement in lateral support 204.

An electrically actuable pneumatic cylinder 324 is provided for theholding and row-cutting assembly 200, and mounted for example uponlateral support 204 in the manner indicated. As the figure illustrates,the cylinder has a plunger member 326 which is pivotally connectedthrough a linkage 328 to the central shaft 286 and the tripping member318. As will be understood, electrical impulses cause the cylinder 324to sharply actuate by extending and retracting its plunger 326. This inturn sharply reciprocates the tripping member 318 and its central shaft286. Inasmuch as this shaft is also connected to tripping member 284 ofFIG. 7, corresponding sharp reciprocating motion is imparted to thelatter. In this manner, both sets of upper and lower actuating members234, 236, 238 and 240 and sliding mount blocks 218, 216, 220 and 222 aresynchronously moved in unison upon actuation of the cylinder 324.

The electrical impulses which actuate cylinder 324 are provided bymicro-switch 312 of FIG. 7, and it will be readily understood that byusing conventional impulse counting means such as a stepping relay forexample, the cylinder may be actuated once per any desired number ofrevolutions of the rotating drive shaft 290. As will be apparent, theactuation of the pneumatic cylinder is therefore directly related to therocking movements of the rocking plates 208 and 210 and their associatedstructures, and further is directly related to the positions of thevarious wafers which are cut and deposited by section 30 of FIG. 3, dueto the synchronized drive between these two sections which has beennoted.

Operation In operation, the hopper 32 in the wafer-forming anddepositing section 30 seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 is filled with a desiredwafer-forming medium such as cookie dough. The dough is continuouslypacked into the forming tubes 38 by the rollers 34 and 36, and as thepaper or other sheet support stock 26 from the rolls 22 passes beneaththe forming tubes, cutting blade 42 is continuously reciprocated by thestructures which have been described to continuously slice off wafersfrom the dough 40 protruding from forming tubes 38, which wafers thenfall directly onto the moving support stock 26 in a continuoussuccession of longitudinal columns. The slicing of the individual wafersis enhanced and facilitated through the rapid reciprocal movementsimparted to cutting blade 42 through the pulley drive 56 and eccentricdrive 52, which have been described.

As the continuous successions of aligned wafers are continuously movedby the supporting sheet stock, they pass through the slitting assemblyof FIGS. 4 and 5, where the individual cutting blades 104 operate toslit the separate sheets of stock into a plurality of separate adjacentelongated strips of material, each bearing a separate continuous columnof wafers. These columns next encounter the holding and row-cuttingassembly 200 of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.Inasmuch as each stroke of the cutting blade 42 in section 30 issynchronized to the drive shaft 290 of the row-cutting assembly, the tworocking plates 208 and 210 rock forward in synchronization with eachwafer in the adjacent columns passing therebeneath, the rocking platesreturning to their starting point with the approach of the nextsucceeding water in each column. This rocking motion of the rockingplates carries the transverse support column 241 and its dependingbacking bar means 242 and 244 seen in FIG. 6 in unison with it, and theindividual members are arranged such that the backing bar means arepositioned directly over each lateral row of adjacent wafers as the samepass directly under the backing bars. Also, the rocking movement of therocking plates carries support member 250 of the transverse cuttingassembly back and forth in unison with the movement of the supportcolumn 241 and backing bars 242 and 244, the arrangement of the cuttingblade 256 being such that it remains oriented adjacent the row of wafersin alignment with the backing bars. Thus, it will be seen that theseparate longitudinal columns of wafers emerging from the slittingassembly 100 remain in laterally aligned rows, and as each such rowmoves past the holding and rowcutting assembly 200, the backing barsmove in unison with it directly overhead, while the cutting blade 256moves in unison with it directly beneath.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the central conveyor bed portion 14 of thecomplete apparatus terminates immediately beyond the holding androw-cutting assembly 200, and as has been noted, a carry-01f conveyormeans 18 is provided as an accessory structure to continue the orderlyprogression of the moving segments of the sheet stock 26 and the wafersthereupon. The forward rocking of the cutting assembly support 250 andcutting blade 256 carries the latter just beyond this extremity of theconveyor bed 14, between it and the carry-off conveyor means 18. Theforward rocking movement of the backing bar means 242 and 244 is merelyto the edge of the conveyor bed portion 14, however.

In accordance with the micro-switch 312 (FIG. 6) and the particularimpulse-counting arrangement being used, an actuating impulse issupplied to pneumatic cylinder 324 (FIG. 8) when a desired number of theadjacent wafers forming each longitudinal column thereof has passedbeneath the backing bar means. When this occurs, not only are thebacking bar means moved forward in synchronism with the particular rowof wafers passing therebeneath due to the movement of the rocking plates208 and 210, but the actuation of the cylinder 324 initiates themovements of the actuating members 234, 236, 238, and 240 and theirassociated upper and lower sliding mount blocks 216, 218, 220, and 222which have been described. Consequently, at this instant the supportcolumn 241 is suddenly lowered as it rocks forward, and this moves thebacking bar means 242 and 244 downward so that their attached contactcushions 246 and 248, respectively, come into contact with the selectedmoving row of laterally adjacent wafers.

The downward movement of the support column 241 is such that the entireweight of the backing bar means is taken up by the row of wafers, due tothe clearance normally existing between the backing bars and the supportcolumn and the sliding fit of the stud members passing through thesupport column to secure the backing bars thereto. The weight of thebacking bars upon the wafers serves to position that particular row andhold it relative to the moving sheet of stock 26 therebeneath. Theforward movement of the sheet stock and wafers continues, directly insynchronism with the forward movement of the support column 241 androcking plates 208 and 210.

At the same time, the oscillating or vibrating cutting blade 256 israised sharply, and due to its orientation relative to the backing bars,it severs the sheet stock 26 transversely, immediately adjacent the rowof wafers being held by the backing bars.

Thus, separate sections of the sheet stock are provided, each bearing adesired number of wafers forming a short column thereupon. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, these separate sections then are moved by thecarry-off conveyor means 18 to a desired location for the actualpackaging operations, wherein the separate sections of wafers may bestacked upon each other and wrapped in a desired manner. The holding andcutting operation is a very rapid movement, and consequently immediatelyafter the particular transverse out has been made, the backing bars andcutting blade return to their positions as shown in FIG. 6, to continueto move in synchronism with succeeding rows of laterally adjacentwafers, and to effect a similar transverse cut upon receiving anotheractuating signal from the microswitch and pneumatic cylinder.

I claim:

1. A method of forming and arranging wafers such as cookies and thelike, comprising the steps: providing an elongated sheet of material forsupporting such wafers; forming a desired wafer medium into a bar ofdesired form; slicing individual waters from said formed bars; movingsaid sheet under said wafers as they are being sliced whereby saidindividual wafers are deposited onto said sheet in spaced relationshipin columns running longitudinally of said sheet and in rows runningtransversely of said sheet; moving said sheet and wafers together pastslitting means to slit the sheet between the columns of said wafers intoseparate elongated strips of sheet material each bearing a column ofsaid wafers; and thereafter cutting said strips transversely thereof atdesired intervals between predetermined rows of wafers as the columnscontinue to move beyond the slitting means, to produce strips ofsupporting material each bearing a predetermined number of a pluralityof wafers ready for packaging.

2. Apparatus for forming and arranging wafers such as cookies and thelike, comprising in combination: means providing an elongated sheet ofmaterial for supporting such wafers; means for moving said sheetmaterial lengthwise in a generally continuous manner; means for forminga desired wafer medium into bar form of desired configuration positionedabove the moving sheet; slicing means for severing said bars intoindividual wafers such that the wafers drop onto said moving sheetmaterial in generally aligned adjacent columns; cutting means forpassing through the moving sheet between said adjacent columns to slitthe sheet into elongated strips of said sheet each bearing a column ofsaid wafers; means for holding particular wafers in place relative tothe moving sheet material; and means for making transverse cuts in saidsheet strips adjacent the said wafers which are held in place at desiredintervals in said lengthwise movement determined by a predeterminedselected number of a plurality of wafers between each cut to producepredetermined separate sections of sheet each bearing a desired numberof a plurality of wafers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for holding wafersincludes an overhead backing bar structure mounted for rocking movementsin the direction of said lengthwise sheet movement and synchronizedthereto, said rocking movement bringing said backing bar structure intoregister with particular wa'fers moving thereunder, and said holdingmeans further including means for lowering said backing bar onto thewafers in register therewith as the wafers and sheet continue to move,to hold such wafers in place relative to the moving sheet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for making transversecuts includes a cutting blade spaced below and positioned across thewidth of said sheet material to co-act with said backing bar to cut thesheet adjacent the Wafers being held by the latter, and further includesmeans for vibrating said blade along its length to facilitate thecutting of said sheet material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for making transversecuts is mounted for rocking movements in unison with said backing barstructure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for making transversecuts includes a cutting blade spaced from and positioned across thewidth of said sheet material, and further includes means for vibratingsaid blade along its length to facilitate the cutting of said sheetmaterial.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for vibrating thecutting blade includes pivotally movable support linkages, and thepivoting of at least some of said linkages is provided by a torsionshaft means secured against rotation to the linkages and to a source ofrotary motion, such that the pivotal motion of the linkages is providedby the torsioning of the shaft means.

8. Apparatus for forming and arranging wafers such as cookies and thelike, comprising in combination: means providing an elongate sheet ofmaterial for supporting such Wafers; means for moving said sheetmaterial lengthwise in a generally continuous manner; means for forminga desired wafer medium into bar form of desired configuration positionedabove the moving sheet; slicing means for severing said bars intoindividual wafers such that the wafers drop onto said moving sheetmaterial in generally aligned adjacent columns running longitudinally ofsaid sheet and in rows running transversely of said sheet; cutting meansfor passing through the moving sheet between said adjacent columns toslit the sheet into elongated strips of said sheet each bearing a columnof said Wafers; and means for making transverse cuts in said strips atdesired intervals in said lengthwise movement determined by apredetermined selected number of a plurality of wafers between each cutto produce predetermined separate sections of sheet each bearing adesired number of a plurality of wafers ready for packaging.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for making transversecuts includes a cutting blade spaced from and positioned across thewidth of said sheet material, and further includes means for vibratingsaid blade along its length to facilitate the cutting of said sheetmaterial.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for vibrating thecutting blade includes pivotally movable support linkages, and thepivoting of at least some of said linkages is provided by a torsionshaft means secured against rotation to the linkages and to a source ofrotary motion, such that the pivotal motion of the linkages is providedby the torsioning of the shaft means.

11. A method of forming and arranging wafers such as cookies and thelike, comprising the steps: providing an elongated sheet of material forsupporting such wafers; providing a desired wafer medium and forming itabove the moving sheet into individual wafers of desired configuration;dropping said individual Wafers onto said sheet; moving said sheet undersaid Wafers as they are being formed and dropped whereby said individualwafers are deposited onto said sheet in spaced relationship in columnsrunning longitudinally of said sheet and in rows running transversely ofsaid sheet; moving said sheet and waters together past slitting means toslit the sheet between the columns of said wafers into separateelongated strips of sheet material each bearing a column of said wafers;and thereafter cutting said strips transversely thereof at desiredintervals between predetermined rows of wafers as the columns continueto move beyond the slitting means, to produce strips of supportingmaterial each bearing a predetermined number of a plurality of wafersready for packaging.

12. Apparatus for forming and arranging wafers such as cookies and thelike, comprising in combination: means providing an elongate sheet ofmaterial for supporting such Wafers; means for moving said sheetmaterial lengthwise in a generally continuous manner; means forproviding a desired wafer medium positioned above the moving sheet;means for forming said medium into individual wafers of a form ofdesired configuration and in such a manner such that the Wafers droponto said moving sheet material in generally aligned adjacent columnsrunning longitudinally of said sheet and in rows running transversely ofsaid sheet; cutting means for passing through the moving sheet betweensaid adjacent columns to slit the sheet into elongated strips of saidsheet each bearing a column of said wafers; and means for makingtransverse cuts in said sheet strips at desired intervals in saidlengthwise movement determined by a predetermined selected number of aplurality of wafers bet-ween each cut to produce predetermined separatesections of sheet each bearing a desired number of a plurality of wafersready for packaging. 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,771 4/ 1950 Roll 107562,579,415 12/1951 Carson 533 X 2,826,024 3/ 1958 Schwertfeger 531673,196,810 7/1965 Roth 1077 X 2,694,319 11/1954 Johnson.

2,735,378 2/1956 Vogt 53-123 3,112,590 12/1963 OBrien 53373 X 0 WALTERA. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH SHEA, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 93-1; 107-54

